Church awaiting answer from government on refugees

Migrants wait to register with the police at the refugee center in the southern Serbian town of Presevo, Monday, Nov. 16, 2015. Refugees fleeing war by the tens of thousands fear the Paris attacks could prompt Europe to close its doors, especially after police said a Syrian passport found next to one attacker’s body suggested its owner passed through Greece into the European Union and on through Macedonia and Serbia last month.(Photo11: AP)

As the rhetoric swells in the wake of the Paris terrorist attack and the plight continues for Syrian refugees looking for a place to emigrate, the Catholic Church waits to act on the U.S. Government, according to the Archdiocese of New Orleans and Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans

In a statement Monday, the two Archdiocese organizations noted that Catholic Charities Immigration and Refugee Services has a long history of resettling families fleeing violence in their home countries.

“In light of recent events, we take this opportunity to not only reiterate our commitment to the Gospel but also our commitment to the safety of our own families and communities. It is important for the community to know that anyone resettled through our program is referred from the United States State Department after extensive security checks and background screenings. This is not a fast process but one that can take months and even years to complete.

“To date, our involvement with Syrian refugee families has been minimal, and we will prayerfully await direction and guidance from the State Department, Homeland Security and others as we work into the future.”

Tina Quesada, resettlement director with the Lafayette’s Migration and Refugee Services, said while the Diocese of did not sign a Memo of Understanding with its national resettlement office, it will participate in a “Remote Placement Project” program.

“This year, for many reasons, staff shortage being one, we did not sign a Memo of Understanding with our national resettlement office,” Quesada wrote in an email. “We did however agree to participate in a pilot program referred to as a ‘Remote Placement Project’ and signed an agreement as such. We are going to continue to receive family reunification cases only.

“We are experiencing an overwhelming number of Cubans being granted entry for humanitarian reasons. They qualify for intensive case management services until they apply for and obtain their employment authorization cards.

“Their numbers have grown in the past few years – for all Louisiana programs. These numbers are in addition to the refugee cases resettled in the state.”

With the Paris terrorist attack Friday and Syrian refugees in the news and politicians responding to both situations, to say that Tina Quesada had a busy Monday would be an understatement.

Quesada, the director of Migration and Refugee Services for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, stated up front in an email that she does not speak for Bishop Michael Jarrell.

However, “I can say that the Diocese of Lafayette/Migration & Refugee Services has not signed any obligation to resettle Syrian refugees,” she wrote, adding, “This Diocese has not received any Syrian refugees.”

“I have been on the phone all day with callers due to the political propaganda on social media,” Quesada responded. “David Vitter has muddied the water and Gov. (Bobby) Jindal has issued an executive order.”

Jindal released an executive order Monday morning to prevent the resettlement of Syrian refugees in Louisiana.

Likewise, Scott Police Chief Chad Leger and Lafayette attorney Mark Garber, vying for the Lafayette Parish Sheriff in Saturday's runoff, have both released statements against Syrian refugees settling in Louisiana in general, and Lafayette, specifically.

“This has happened in U.S. refugee program before,” Quesada wrote. “It happened for Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina and after 9/11.”

Prior to Friday’s attack in France, the websites The Hayride and The Federalist Papers, promoted a since debunked story that 10,000 Syrian refugees already in New Orleans will be resettled in 180 cities in the country, including Lafayette, Baton Rouge and Metairie.

“In recent years, the combined Louisiana programs receive less than 500 ‘refugees’ all total. So, the numbers on social media are ridiculous,” Quesada stated. “No one has staff to handle large numbers of any type. Plus, a president may request a large number, but Congress has to authorize funding to match the numbers and has rarely happened throughout history.

“Many church-based organizations have participated in refugee resettlement since Ellis Island,” she wrote.

The Office of Migration and Refugee Services carries out the commitment of the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States to serve and to advocate for immigrants, refugees, migrants and people on the move.

“We have an agreement to ensure the proper resettlement of the reunification of family members living here from any country in the world. Should such individuals be registered by UNHCR, referred for an interview, have an interview by immigration officials and U.S. Department of State officials, deemed a ‘refugee’ under the international definition, subject themselves through multiple background checks (FBI, CIA, etc.) and medical evaluations and maybe be approved; one day in the distant future.

“Then, the anchor relative here would be subject to a home study and sign an agreement to assist them to become self-sufficient as quickly as possible — within 90 days,” wrote Quesada.

"In the past, this Diocese has resettled refugees from countries representing multiple ethnic groups, races and religions of the world,” Quesada wrote. “We are very proud of the persecuted, ethnic minorities that we have resettled from the Middle East in the past.”

A priority of the Office of Migration and Refugee Services is “to assist in alleviating the suffering where they are, until they may repatriate to their homeland.”

Quesada wrote that many European countries have fewer qualifications for citizenship than does the United States.

“Once you have a European passport, you are free to travel to the U.S. without a visa. That is more of a concern than the refugee program where at least some screening takes place,” she wrote. “Syrian passport holders need a visa. Most European countries are on the U.S. Department of State site as ‘visa waiver’ countries.”